Assict



J. B. BARTHOLOMEW.

GANG FLOW.

, APPLlCATlQN FILED MAY 4, m1.

1,37%673. Patented May 31,1921

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J. B. BARTHOLOMEW.

GANG PLOW.

APPLlCATION FILED MAY 4, 1917.

Patented May 31, 1921.

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GANG PLOW.

APPLICATiON FILED MAY 4, 1917.

1,379,673. P len ed. May 31, 1921.

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wi/tmwo @wM' J. B BARTHOLOMEW.

GANG PLOW.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 4, 1911.

1,379,673, Patentefi May 31, 1921.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

UNITED STATES PATNT orrica.

JOHN B. BAR'IHOLOMEWV, 0F PEORIA, ILLINOTS, ASSIGNOR T0 AVERY COMPANY, OF

PEOBIA, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS. I

GANG-PLOW.

Original application filed. May 15, 1913, Serial No. 767,923.

Divided and this application filed May 4, 1917.

To all whom it may concern lie it known that T, JOHN B. BARTHoLo- Mnw, a citizen of the United States, residing at Peoria, in the county of Peoria and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful= Improvements in Gang-Flows,

of which the following is a specification,

reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to improvements in plows and especially to improvements in gang plows in which the furrow-forming elements are disks.

In my application, Serial No. 767,923, filed May 15, 1913, renewed October 12, 1916, Serial No. 125,288, of which the present application is a division, I illustrated and described a plowing mechanism in which the present improvements can be embodied, upon which application Letters Patent 1,227,237 were issued May 22nd, 1917. The object of these improvements is to provide means for supporting the frame which carries the disks, which will permit the diskcarrying part of the frame to be readily lifted out of plowing position, and which can then be held in relation to the frame so that it can be transported from place to place as desired. The frame has an inclined draftbar for attaching the disks in diagonal series and it is supported at the front and at the rear in such a way that it can be raised. first at the rear end, and afterward at the front end, and can then be rigidly connected to its supporting devices for the purpose set forth.

Other objects will be apparent from the following description.

In the accompanying drawings T have shown the embodiment of my invention: which I now deem preferable. It will be understood, however, that numerous changes and modifications may be made.

Of the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan View of the entire P Fig. 2 is a side elevation;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation;

Fig. 4: is a fragmentary side View, partly in section, of the forward right-hand supporting wheel and associated parts;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary diagrammatic plan View of one of the rear supporting wheels and associated parts;

Specification of Letters Patent.

Serial No. 166,367.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary diagrammatic rear elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 5 with the frame in normal operative position;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6, but showing the frame in elevated position;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the lines 8-8 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along lines 9-9 of Figs. 1 and 8; and

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary diagrammatic view of the lifting cams taken from the right-hand side of the machine.

Referring to the drawings, it will be noted that the main frame as shown, comprises two principal parts, 1 and 2. As to the details of these frame parts, there may be variations, but in the construction shown the forward part, 1, comprises a front cross bar 3, and the side bars 1 and 5. The side bar 1 extends rearward throughout a part of its length and is then bent inward to form the diagonal member 4. The side bar 5 e); tends rearward for a short distance and is then bent inward to form the diagonal element 5*. The rear ends of the diagonal elements 1 are joined at 6.

The rear frame section 2 comprises a forward member 7 which is diagonally positioned parallel to the diagonal element lof the front frame. The frame section 2 also has a diagonal element 8 which is connected at its forward end to the rear end ofthe element 7 and which is positioned parallel to the element 5 of the front frame. A. strut or brace 9 connects the forward end of the element 7 with the rear part of the element 8.

The two frame sections are flexibly connected together by means of hinge devices at 10 and 10 While I have shown in the drawings but two frame sections, it will be understood that a larger number of sections may be used if found desirable. The manner of constructing and connecting such additional frame sections will be readily apparent.

. Rigidly secured to the diagonal rear edge elements 5 and 8 of the frame sections 1 and 2 are plowing or furrow-forming elements ll -ll. As shown, these plowing elements are rotatable disks which are connected to the frame parts by means of brackets 12-12. The disks can be connected to the brackets Renewed. October 12, 1916, Serial 110. 125,288.

"tension of-thebracket 12 for the rear disk.

in any well-known or preferred manner, and as this feature of the mechanism forms no part of my present invention, detailed description can be omitted. As shown, the disks 1111 are provided with scrapers 13-l3, but as to this feature also, there can be variation. In. fact, so far as certain features of my invention are concerned, the

disks may be omitted entirely and plowing elements of moldboard type substituted.

For supporting the forward corner of the front frame section, which is opposite to the plowing elements, I provide a ground wheel 14 rigidly secured to a rotatable shaft 15. This shaft 15 is mounted in a bearing 16, secured to the frame member 4 and in a bearing 17, secured to a supplementary frame memberlS, which extends from the front member 3, rearward, to the point of connection between the members 4 and 5 For supporting the opposite forward corner of the front frame section, I provide a ground wheel 19, whichis loosely mounted on the aXle2O. The axle is connected with the vertical spindle '21, which is vertically slidable in a bearing aperture in a qedestal 22, secured to the frame element 5. Mechanism is provided for moving the .pindle. 21, together with the axle 20 and the wheel 19, vertically with respect to the bracket. This mechanism will be'hereinafter described in detail. 7 For preventing the axle 20 and the wheel 19 from swinging about the axis of the spindle 21, I provide the link or strut 23, which can be adjusted n length by means of the turnbuckle 2A. In this way the axle 20 can be moved, and

the angle of the wheel, with respect to the For su aortin the rear earl; of the front b i rrame section, I provide the third ground' wheel 2:,whichis positioned at an angle to the vertical and so located that it is adapted to travel in the furrow formed by the last disk on the. front fra ie section. This wheel is mounted on an axle 26 which is connectedfto the vertical spindle27. This spindle 27 is slidable in a vertical bearing apertnrein a pedestal '28, which is secured to. the frame by means ofthe'bra'cket 29. in the form shown, th1sibracket-29 is an ex- As'to this feature, there can beva-riation.

Preferably the bracket 29 is reinforced by the bar. indicated at 30. The spindle 27,

together with the axle 26 and the wheel 25,

can be moved vertically with respect to the frame by means of mechanism similar to that for the spindle 2i. This mechanism will be described later.

The forward parts of the rear frame section 2 are supported by means of the l'lingcs 10 and 10 which connect them to the front frame section. The rear part of the rear frame section is supported by means of a ground wheel 31, which is mounted by means of an axle 32 and a spindle 33, similar respectively to the parts 26 and 27. The spindle 325 is mounted in a pedestal Ill which is similar to the pedestal 28 and is similarly secured to the. frame section. The wheel hi can be moved vertically with respect to the frame section by mechanism to be described.

Secured to each of the pedestals 22, 28 and 8%, IS a horizontally extending arm 35 to which is pivotally connected the lower end of a threaded. rod 36. S7 is a yoke which is slidable on the rod 36 and which can be adjusted by means of the threaded hand wheel 38. 39 is a lever which is bifur itcd at its rear end and embraces the sleeve 40 secured to the upper end of the spindle. The lever is pivoted to the sleeve at ell. The rear end of the lever is pivoted at 42 to 'the yoke 3.7. and a lug l3 on the sleeve 10 serves to limit the movement of the lever in one direction. From the foregoing description it will be obvious that the downward movement of the forward end of the lever will cause a corresponding downward movement of the spindle and of the wheel and axle with respect to the pedestal. i-lowcver, as the wheel is in contact with the ground, the result will be a lifting of the pedestal and of the adjacent frame parts with respect to the wheel. The relative positions of the wheel and of the frame parts can be adjusted by means of the hand wheel 38. For holding the pedestal and frame parts in li'l'te' positions, I provide a spring; hold latch i wvhich is adapted to ena suitable lug on the sleeve 40. Each latch el-l; is held by its spring either in opuse or inoperative position, as desired by is operal; lVhcn it is desired to hold fer to also provide means whereby the levers can be moved automatically by power and moved successively. As to the details of this lifting" mechanism, there can be wide variation, but for the purpose of illustration. 1 have shown a mechanism which is in many respects similar to that shown and described in my earlier co-pending application for gang plows, Serial No. 671,955, filed January 18, 1912.

Referring in detail to the lifting mechanism, 45 is a short jack shaft'parallel to the shaft 15, upon which the ground wheel 14 is mounted. Loosely mounted on the jack shaft 45 is a sprocket wheel 46 in line with a sprocket wheel 47 on the shaft 15. A chain 48 passes over these two wheels. Secured to the sprocket wheel 46 is a notched or serrated disk 49, and adjacent this disk and keyed to the shaft 45 is a large circular disk 50 formed at one point in its periphery with a rounded notch 51. A dog 52 is pivotally mounted on the disk 50. The head of the dog carries a laterally extending roller 53 arranged to engage with the notched periphery of the disk 49, and a spring 54 which is interposed between the hub of the disk 49 and the dog 52, tends to press the roller 53 into engagement with. the disk 49. A lever 55 is pivotally mounted on the hearing bracket 56 beneath the disk 49 and carries a roller 57 adapted to ride upon the periphery of said'disk. The lever also carries the roller 58 which is disposed in the plane of the dog 59 is a coil spring interposed between the end of the lever 55 and an extension 60- of the bearing bracket 56, and tends to press the roller 57 radially inward against the disk 50. The upper end of the lever 55 has connected to it a rope or cord 61, which extends forward to some convenient point within the reach of the operator.

By referring to Fig. 8 it will be seen that when the roller? 57 lies within the notch 51 in the disk 50, the roller 58 is in position to engage the rounded back or tail of the dog; 52 and swings the dog on its pivot so that the roller 53 is withdrawn from engagement with the continuously rotating notched disk 49. If new the driver pulls on the rope 61 to swing the upper end of the lever 55 forward, the rollers 57 and 58 will be swung downward and the spring 54 will expand and cause the dog 52 to swing the roller 53 into engagement with. the rotating disk 49. In this way a driving connection is effected between the disk 49 and the disk 50, so that the rotation of the former is transmitted to the latter.

The rotation of the disk 50 causes the notch 51 to be immediately moved away from the roller 57 so that when the rope 61. is released by the driver and the spring; 59 tends to return the lever 55 to its initial position, such a return is prevented by the engagement of. the; roller 57 with the circular periphery of the disk 50. But asthe disk 50 nears the end of its revolution, the roller 57 rides suddenly into the notch 51 under the action of the spring 59, and in this movement the roller 58 is caused to strike the tail of the dog 52 and to cause the disengagement of the roller 53 from the disk 49.

Thus, by a simple pull upon the'cord 61, the rotation of the disk 50 is started, and at the end of a single revolution is automatically'stopped. Connected to the disk 50 and to the shaft 45 is a sprocket wheel 62 which is in line. with a sprocket wheel 63 on a transverse shaft 64 at the forward end of the frame. 63 is a chain passing over the sprocket wheels 62 and 63. This shaft 64 is mounted in suitable bearings secured to the brackets 65, 66 and 67 mounted on the front member of the frame. The ratio between the diameters of the sprocket wheels 62 and 63 is such that the shaft. 64 is given a half revolution for every "complete revolution of the shaft 45. Each of the brackets 65, 66 and 67 is formed in two parts, and between the parts of the several brackets there are mounted cams 68, 69 and 70. Pivoted to the forward outer ends of the brackets 65, 66: and 67 are levers 71, 72 and 73 which carry rollers 74, 75 an d7 6 adapted to engage, respectively, with the cams 68, 69 and 70. Connected to the rear end of the lever 71 is a chain 77 which extends over a suitable pulley 78 and is connected to the spindle 21.. A chain 79 is connected to the rear end of the lever 72.? This chain eX- tends over suitable pulleys 80 and 81 and is connected to the lever 39 for the wheel, 25. A. chain 82 is connected to the rear end of the lever 7 3. This chain extends over suitable pulleys 83, 84 and 85, and is connected to the lever 39 for the rear wheel 31.

Each of the cams 68, 69 and is formed with an active. lifting portion 86, an inactive sustaining portion 87 and an inactive dropping portion 88. It will therefore be clear that as each cam rotates. engages the cor responding rollers to swing the correspondinp; lever and move the corresponding wheel downward with respect to the frame. After the movement of the lever is once effected, the lever will be held in lifted position during' the next succeedingpart of the rotation of the cam. Upon further rotation of the cam, the lever will be released. and permitted to return to the lower position, as shown in Fig.2

The cams 68, 69 and 70 are angular-1y spaced on the shaft so that during rotation the cam 68 first comes into action, then the can] 69, and finally the cam 70; this resulting in first lifting the forward disks of the front dia gonal series or group and then lifting those at the rear end of the series, and in lifting the groups successively, the furrow wheels being successively released from their locks or holders and allowed to caster after the rear disks of their respective groups have been raised. It will be understood from the foregoing description that the shaft 64 is rotated through a half revolution at each actuation of the clutch. During one half-revolution the active parts of the cams are brought into engagement with the rollers, andthe three wheels 19,25 and 31 are moved successively to cause a successive lift of the adjacent parts of the frame andof the adjacent plowing elements. At the end of the first half-revolution the rollers are still engaged by the cams, and the frame parts and plowing elements are maintained in lifted positions. During the next half-revolution the cams successively disengage the rollers and permit the levers tomove and release the frame parts and plowing elements, and permit them to return successively to plowing position.

The plow, as a whole, can be hauled in any approved manner, as by means of a suitable tractor, or tractor engine. Chains 89-89-are provided for the hauling of the plow. To facilitate the turning of the plow, as a whole, at the ends of the furrows, or at the corners of a field, the wheels 25 and 31 are so mounted that they can swing laterally when the frame sections are in lifted positions. It will be noted that lugs 90 and 91 are provided which serve to hold the wheels against swinging when the frame sections are in plowing position. However, these lugs disengage the wheels whenv the frame sections are lifted and free movement of the wheels is therefore possible.

As before pointed out, the wheel 19 can be adjusted angularly so as to tend to a greater or less extent to move the plow later-ally and to hold the plowing elements up 7 to their work.

.What I claim is z 1. In a gang plow, the combination of a frame, a diagonally arranged series of plowing disks rigidly connected to the frame, two wheels for supporting the forward part of the frame, a disk'alining furrow wheel adapted to caster and connected with and supporting the rear part of the frame, optionally active means actuated by one of the wheels at the front of the frame, power transmitting devices driven by said means and arranged to first lift the front part of the frame and the front disks of the series and thereafter lift the rear part of the frame and the rear disks of the series, and

means for locking said furrowwheel against casterlng and holding it as a r gid disk alining wheel until the front disks have been raised, and then automatically releasing said wheel and permitting it to caster after the rear disks are raised.

2. In a gang plow, the combination of the plurality of flexibly connected frame sections, each having a diagonally disposed rear edge part, and each section being, on the land side, supported above the ground, a plurality of groups of plowing disks, the disks of each group being arranged in a diagonal series and fixedly connected to the rear edge part of a frame section, two front wheels for supporting the forward part ofthe front frame section, a disk-alining furrow wheel for supporting the rear end of the diagonally disposed edge part of each frame section and a l:-.pted to caster, power transmitting devices adapted to be optionally actuated by one of the front frame-supporting wheels and adapted to first lift the front disks of each group and thereafter lift the rear disks of said group, and also adapted to lift the groups successively, and means for holding the furrow wheels against eastering when the disks are in their lowered positions, and for releasing each furrow wheel and permitting it to caster after the rear disks of its group have been elevated, and releasing the furrow wheels successively.

3. In a gang plow, the combination of supporting front ground wheels, a frame carried by said wheels and comprising a plurality of independently movable plow beams, plowing elements carried by said beams, a supporting ground and caster wheel on the rear end of each of said plow beams and having a substantially vertical pivot, means for limiting the turning of each of the caster wheels on its pivot when the frame is lowered, power mechanism adapted to successively release the caster wheels from said limiting means during one cycle of operation to permit the successive turning of the caster wheels, and a clutch whereby said power mechanism may be connected with a rotary power element to cause the operation of said mechanism.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN B. BARTl-lOLOMElV.

\Vitnesses ANNIE C. Ers'rnn, E'rIrnL M. LANE. 

